Vehicle steering mechanism



March 25,. 1952 V. l. DUDLEY VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Nov. 6, 1948 is; h m5: M a; .M. u MIL Marh 25, 1952 v. 1. DUDLEYVEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 6, 1943 [2272622202 V3620 Z IDZzQZey.

V. l. DUDLEY VEHICLE STEERING MECHANISM March 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 5Filed v. 6, 1948 020622202: W620 2 1L721 Q 269. (31y ,4w4 A WM PatentedMar. 25, 1952 J 2;,59'0300- VEHICLEME'CHANISM Victor 12 Dudle Franklin;2a.,- assizner; Jim:

Gompa'mg, Pittsburgh;- Pay corporation:Pennsylvania: xpplieatimrNovember 6, 19 18: seriar'N-is: 583713 Tmsmv mmnrelates tomechani'sm frste'erfingself propeiledvehicls, and: morepartieula to improvements insteering mecha n c1 havingifrontiamfirear setsofst' table wheesAnotherobjeetis oprovidean hnpidved' f g me'chanism fbfvehicles" ofthech tel mentionew in which tie rods Between tii front: wlieelsandilcietwe en the-reaf'wheels" are-ui i neces'- sarya kiurther ohjectisto' provideranrim roiled steering: mechanism" havingfront and' re setsof steerable wheels" incorporating? improved" meansforcausingwhatpai'rof the frontandrear wheels which is" at'fthe insideof a"- gurvefi'pamto be followed by the vehicleto" turnthrough a greater angle than theother" pair offront and proved" steeringr'mechanisnr" for so":-adjusting the front and rea1-"whee1s'"of"a'- vehicle that whj'eriithevehicle is beingsteered to" effect turning :on the shortestp'ossibleradiusali of'the' wheelssha'll lie so -positioned" thatthel'inesof i their" axes of rotation shall intersect, when extended, a:comin'on verti'cailine:v and desirably at common point therein; Stillanother object" of" thefinvention: is? 55 provide" an improved steeringmechanisih' for" vehicles having front and rearisets" of st" fablewheels'providingiior equalturningfmovem tsot mefrontrarrd 'fiackwheelsrat 'thetf'same the'vehileiz other'ob'jectsandf'advantagfes'f'tt'ieinvention" will hereinafter more fiinir"appear? 1 mi theaccompanying J drawings. in which for? purpose's ofiillustration oneembodiment myi'rwentionz may, assumein" pi'actie ha showm,

Fii' 1 is atopplan v iew ofi a 'se1f-pro" llti" veh'iele wfii'eh my.invention is" em'lSo itsl'i1Iiistiate'd'36rIfi L V 2 2' a. pa'r.t'ia1"1side el'evationalilviewt- W part broken-away, showing; i'nlsimpl'ifiedlfor portion: ofthe: improved? steer-mg;- apparat' Fig, Iistaside-elvationahview offthewe me: show" nFligrl;

Fig. 4'" is; an: enlargedll vertical. sectional; view showing, flierhydraulically operated cylmder and piston mechanismutihzed in effectingpower steering Fig; 5 isa-an enlargedrschematmview showing}: thesteering mechanisn twith -practieallwall other parts..-omitted,0 theview being: it weref-aepl'an view f ths:-steerinmmechanismi right. Allof the wheels are steerablaa 22:01a (01: am er! rearward" end; lettersrespectively indi cater mnmem fiont r i'glit} rearleft and: rear each;is provided with a steering arm or oke several" steering armsoflyokesheme designated with the same letters as the*whee1s with' whieh' they"are associated. steering arms assoeia-ted withr: the severa-rwh'eeIsare" each so constrhcted andarranged that' they form the equivale'n't'sr of levers a'rrange'd at angles to the 1 vertie'al plimes: in"which" the axes v of wheel rotation lie' and each, of whioh has itspoint of connection with an associated link; later" described, nearerthe more ad'jacent end of the vehicle than would lie-themase werethep'oint of connection lbcated" the vertical plane in whi'eh lies theaxis of rotatiom of the; wheel steered by" such steering arm; Thesteerable wheelsare mounted b'y meansi ofaxles; one of 'whieh is'shown'at d and-which" stiDpO'rtf-the fi'a'm'ei 5 5 of the vehicletSteering isundr thecontrol of steering wheel 8', mounted" on asteering'colilmn- 1 and by rack and pinion meansadapted to turn a sector 8abonfiarhorizontal -axis 9. A' link lfl is-pivotally connectednt one"end, at I l} to the-sector 8;.a'nd at? its: other" end: is pivotally"comieeted w the 1owe'rf"e'rid"of* a'=1ever"' lZiwhosef upper" end' hasconnected to it a reach rod" l'3:. The" lever lzfis"pivotalIYconnectedfat' 040w onee'nw of a connecting rod I 5'; ,andtth'elever 12 is pivota-uyrsun ported b'y up'standin arni's l6 pivotallymountedasat IT on a plate IB formin'g' a-po'rti'on' of thevehicle-framer The oonnectihg-rod I 5 is-pivota11'y' connected? at itsother endl'to' the operating rod of'a. valve mechanism I9, the:particular onesho-wn ebeing calledv a-Bendix angl consisting of asuitable reciprocabl'e valve which is movable ope positely to distributewhydraulie fiuid,,.su-ppliedby; a pugnpnotvshown selectively to. theopposite ends: of a steering} servo-motor 2 0,: andto ventflixidtfromsuchends; The mechanism described-= has; many: of thecharacteristics' ofa-"steering:

engine}; including: the: feature of a follow-um motion, and is wellknown in the art amdi -m use ontmanx-i shuttle-rears!" of; themanufacture of mwassigneet The-steermeiservbf motori'lnfiprovidespbwemfon' FiBL-fiis a:-viw"-0f the steermmlmehfinismk aitiIi -thesteering of all four wheels, and comprises cylinder 25, a piston 26, anda piston rod 21, and has a pivotal mounting on the vehicle I at 28.Fluid supply and discharge conduits 23 and 33 lead to the opposite endsof the cylinder 25 from the Bendix or control valve mechanism.

Midway between the pairs of front and rear wheels there is atransversely extending shaft 3|, rotatably supported at 32 in bearingscarried by vehicle frame elements 33, 33. Gear sectors 34 and 35,generally oppositely facing, are fixed to the opposite ends of the shaft3|; and to the sector 34 there is pivotally connected at 34 a forkmember 2'! fixed to the outer end of the piston rod 21. The gear sector34 faces generally. forwardly, the sector 35 generally rearwardly, asshown. Downward swing of the sector 34 is attended by upward swingof'the sector 35, and vice versa.

Meshing with the gear sector 34 is a gear sector 36, and meshing withthe gear sector 35 is a gear sector 31, :The gear sector 36 is pivotallysupported as at 38 by the adjacent side frame 33, and its axis is, forreasons later explained, forward of and slightly above the axis of thecross shaft. The gear sector-31 ispivotally supported as at 39 by theframe v33 which is adjacent to it, and its pivot is .above and to therear of the axis of the cross shaft 3|. This cross shaft passes beneaththe plate P over which the flight conveyor Q moves. I

Each gear sector has connected to it a link or rod. Two of theserodsarerelatively long and two are relatively short.

.The longer'rods, which are pivotally connected to thegear sectors 34and 35 carried on the cross shaft 3| are numbered 40 and 4|. Those whichare connected to the segments'36 and 3! are relativelyshort and arenumbered 42 and 43. Rod 40 at its forward end is pivotally connected at44 as by a ball connection to the sector 34,.and'at its rear end to aball projection 45 on the steering bracket 3RL. Rod 4| at its rearwardend is similarly pivotally connected at 46 tothe' sector 35, and at itsforward end is connected to a ball projection 41 on the steering bracket3FRL. Rod, 42 is similarly pivotally connected at 48 at its rearward endto the sector 36 and at its forward end to a ball projection 49 on thesteering bracket or arm .3FL. Rod 43 is similarly pivotally connectedatits forward end as at 50 to the sector 31 and at its rearward end to aball projection on the steering bracket BRR. Allof the connections ofthe several "rods are by means off ball' and socket devices, wherebychanges in lateral and vertical positions are made possible. Each of theball projections 45, 41, 49 and 5| is nearer,

" in the positions of the wheels for rectilinear vehicle movement, tothe more adjacent end of the vehicle than the axis of rotation ofthewheel whose'steering-it aids in effecting. The reach rod l3 at itsrearward end is connected by a ball and socket connection 52 to the]steering arm 3FL.

The positions of the gear sectors shown in full lines are thosewhicncorrespond "to the midposition of the'piston 26 in its cylinder 25.When the piston is caused to move forwardly, steering to the right,considering forward vehicle movement, will be effected.- When the piston26 is moved rearwardly in its cylinder, steering to the left,considering'forward vehicle movement, will be effected. I

The pivot mountings 38 and 39 are higher than the bearings 32, 32, sothat the angles to the horizontal of the shorter rods 42 and 43 maybereduced.

When the piston 26 is in mid-position in its cylinder, a radial lineconnecting its pivotal connection 34' with the sector 34 with the axisof the shaft 3| is at right angles to the axis of the piston rodextended. (See Fig. 4.) Thus the ranges of opposite arcuate movement, asthe piston is moved to the opposite ends of its cylinder, areessentially the same. The location of the cross shaft 3| is determinedby the fact that it is below the bottom plate P of the material carryingreceptacle of the vehicle and that it may best be equidistant from thefront and back wheels. As the longer links or rods 40, 4| are connectedto the sectors 34 and 35 which are carried by the cross'shaft, thislower position of the axis of .turning of these sectors is notprejudicial, but in order that the angle of the shorter rods 42, 43 tothe horizontal may not be excessive, it is preferred to have theirpivotal mountings higher, in the manner shown and above described. Whenthe pivotal connections of the rods with the sectors'at. either side ofthe vehicle are to be moved apart, it is desired that maximum turning ofthe wheels which these rods control be effected. Thus the ball pivotswill be located on the sectors in the manner shown, namely, relativelynear to a" line extending from the pivots of their respective sectorsperpendicularly to the line which connects the end pivots'of their rods,so that, re ferring to Fig. 6, as the piston 26' moves forward in itscylinder 25 the right hand wheels will undergomaximum turning movement,the rear wheel counterclockwise in Fig. 5 and the front wheel clockwisein Fig. 5. Simultaneously, with respect to the left side of the vehiclelooking forwardly, the ball pivots carried bythe sectors 34 and 36 willbe caused to approach each other, but, in view of the location of thesepivots 44 and 48, while the wheelsat the left hand side of the vehicle.looking forward will, in the case of the back. wheel, be turnedcounterclockwise, and in the case of the front wheel clockwise, theangle of turning movement will be reduced. The ball pivots onthe'sectors are so located, it will be seen, that, while there is a muchgreater longitudinal ,rod movement when the pivot connections move apartthan when they move together, the angles of arcuate movement of thesectors themselves will be the same, whether the piston of theservo-motor moves from its center position to its rearward position, orfrom its center position to its foremost position. The location of thepivotal connections will be so made that the axes of the several wheelsextended will intersect in a common point when the steering'mechanism iscramped hard over so as to effect turning on the shortest radius.tributes to the accomplishment of the maximum turning of the wheels atthe inside of curved paths is the location of the ball projections 45,41, 49 and 5| as above described; and it will be noted that due to theirlocations relative to the steering arms or yokes 3 movements apart ofthe ball projections 41 and 5| (and of the projec steering arms willboth contribute effectively to the desired greater angular movements of'the inside wheels on curves.

From the foregoing description it will be ap parent that I haveprovided-an improved steering mechanism in which it is unnecessary to'con- Another factor that con corresponding. angles by like movements ofthe steering-control device irrespective ofthedirection: in whichtheivehicle iszt'o be'caused' to turn; and one which is: very simple,rugged, eifective, and whichmay be power operatedin a most advantageousmanner. Obviously the pairs of coasting gear sectors are but.representative of other: mechanisms for connecting what may broadly. beconsidered: as crankarms for movementxin mutually opposite directions;It will be observed that the illustrativeembodiment ofthe.

invention includes. four drag links connected to therfour wheels of thevehicle-by ball and socket joints; theldrag links being'shown as nearto, and

generally parallel to paralleltvertical planes at, the

sideszof' the vehicle: frame, and extending towards thecenteri Of thevehicle and being pivoted: on

additional ball. studs near the peripheries" of the;

meshing gear element (shown for illustration as gearsecto'rs). The draglinksare pivotally connected; tothe gear elements" at points-inradiallines which incline towards each otherwhen the vehicle wheels are instraight-away position, with the-result. that with the assistance ofproperly shaped: steering arms the wheels will be turned in proper:direction and through proper angles irrespective of thedirection of"steering, withpro portions predetermined to provide for; the"precisely; desired relative anglesbetween the wheels: when turning onthe shortest; possible. radius isto be effected. By this arrangement tierods between wheels may be dispensedwith; which isrveryhelpful when theroad clearance is. small. Veryr direct conneotionsto each wheel areprovided.v Equal and'positive motion for the wheelsat; theinsideof aturnand. also for the-wheels atithe outsideof a turn is secured, andtheaxes of. rotationof all of the wheels. produced (or extended) intersectat least approximately-and quite exactly on very sharp turns-a commonline, The-structure lends itself wellto-hydraulic steer.- ing,=with-.power application at either end of'the commonshaft 3|,and isideally adapted to ine of wheels. (gal-wing in rigid; relation.

dependent wheel. suspension.

In the appended claims the'gear' sectors are sometimes sospecified, inother'claimsthey arereferred to as"gear elements, inothersas crankarm.-.equivalents, and .again. they are simply designatedqas. crank:arms, forxsuch they truly are, though of special shape and performingadditional functions.

While there: is in. this application specifically described oneembodiment which the invention.

withoutdepartingrfrom itsspirit or the scope of the'appended' claims;

What. I' claim as .new and desire to secure by' LettersrPatentis:

1?.Steering mechanism for a vehicle having" frontwandrear sets ofsteerable wheels each hewing: a steering arm. connected thereto,comprising-a transverse shaft-carrying gearsectors fixed torotatetherewith and disposed one at eachof theopposite sidesof thelongitudinal center line of the vehicle, other gear sectors pivotally'supported; .on:.axes ofisetfrom' the axis of. said shaft. butlparallelthereto, at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center: lineof saidvehicle and con stantly meshing: with said first mentioned gear.sectors, means for effecting swinging of one of: said gear sectors uponits axis, and rods cachindividualto. a single steering; arm and to asingle gear sector connecting the several steering arms. each with a.separategear sector whereby each gear sector controls" thesteeringposition of one wheel. and the several sectors together control thesteerin positions of all of the wheels,

2; Steeringmechanismfora vehicle having front and rear sets of steerablewheels each having a steering-arm connected. thereto, comprisinga'transverse shaft carrying gear sectors at the opposite sides of thelongitudinal center line of the" vehicle, gear sectors pivotallysupported, on axes ofiset from the axis of said shaft, at

the opposite sides of the longitudinal center lineof said vehicle andmeshing with said first mentioned gear sectors, means for eiiectingswinging of one of said gear sectors upon its axis; and rodseachconnecting the steering arm of one wheel to a gear sector, each ofsaid rods connected with but one steering arm and but one gearsecto1'--and '--each pivotally connected to its associated gear-sectorat a point offset" from theaxis of pivotal-support of thelatter.

3'. Steering mechanism for" a vehicle having;- iront and' rearsets ofsteerable wheels eachhaving asteering arm connected thereto; comprisinga transverse shaft midway between said setsof I Wheels and" carryinggearsectors" at" the opposite' sides of the longitudinal center line of"the vehicle, gear sectors pivotally' supported, on axes offset from theaxis ofsaid shaft, at the-opposite sides of the longitudinal center"linev of" said vehicle and"atopposite-sidesof theaxisof said shaftandmeshingwithsaid first mentioned 7 gearsectors, means for effectingswinging of" one of saidgear sectors uponits axis; and-rodseach'connecting the-steering arm of one wheel" to' a gearsector; eachof saidrods connected with but one arm and but one-gearsector:

it Steering mechanismfor a vehicle having front and rear sets ofsteerable wheelseachi having-a steering arm-connected thereto; comprising a transverse shaft midway between said thereto gear sectors atthe opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the-vehicle,gear-sectors pivotally -supported, 0n axes ofisetfrom theaxis-of-saidshaft, at theopposite sides of" the longitudinalcenterline of saidvehicle and atthe opposite sides of said shaft and meshing with" saidfirst mentioned gear sectors, means" for ef'- fecting swinging of one ofsaid gearsectorsupon its-axis, and rods each connecting the steering armof' one Wheelto a gear secton'said rods each pivotally connected, at apoint offset from the pivot axis of the sector' with which it' is con--ne'cted, with such-"sector.

5. Steerling mechanism for a vehiclehaving front and rear sets ofsteerable wheels each having asteering arm connected thereto, comprisinga transverse shaft carrying in rigid rela-'- tion thereto :gear sectorsat'the oppositesides of thedongitudinal center line of the vehicle andextending in' opposite directions from eachotherwith respect to saidshaft, gear sectors pivotally supported, on axes offset from the axis ofsaid shafts, at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line ofsaid vehicle and meshing with said first mentioned gear sectors, meansfor effecting swinging of one of said gear sectors upon its axis, androds each individual to one steering arm and one gear sector forconnecting the steering arms of the several wheels each to a differentgear sector. .i.

6. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear sets ofsteerable wheels each having a steering arm connected thereto,comprising a transverse shaft carrying in non-rotative relation theretogear sectors at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line ofthe vehicle and extending in opposite directions from each other withrespect .to said shaft, gear sectors pivotally supported, on axes offsetfrom the axis of said shaft, at the opposite sides of the longitudinalcenter line of said vehicle and meshing with said first mentioned gearsectors, means for effecting swinging of one of said gear sectors uponits axis, and rods each connecting one steering arm and one gear sector,each rod connecting the steering arm with which it is connected to thegear sector nearest to that wheel with which such steering arm isconnected. 7. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rearsets of steerable wheels each having a steering arm connected thereto,comprising a transverse shaft carrying in rigid relation thereto gearsectors at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of thevehicle, gear sectors pivotally supported, on axes offset from the axisof said shaft, at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line ofsaid vehicle and meshing with said first mentioned gear sectors, meansfor effecting swinging of one of said gear sectors upon its axisincluding a cylinder and piston mechanism having apivotal connectionwith such sector at such a point thereon that a line connecting thepivotal axis of such sector and said point make a right angle with theaxis of said cylinder and piston mechanism when the piston thereof is inmid stroke position, and rods connecting the several steering arms andsectors, each rod connecting thesteering arm of one wheel to one gearsector whereby steering of each wheel is effected by a single sector.

' 8. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear sets ofsteerable wheels each having a steering arm connected thereto,comprising a transverse shaft midway between said sets of wheelscarrying gear sectors in non-rotative relation thereto at the oppositesides of the longitudinal center line of the vehicle and extending inopposite directions from each other with respect to said shaft, othergear sectors pivotally supported, on axes offset from the axis of saidshaft, at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of saidvehicle and meshing with said first mentioned gear sectors, means foreffecting swinging of one of said gear sectors upon its axis, relativelyshorter rods connecting said other gear sectors with the steering armsof the wheels which are closest to said other gear sectors, andrelatively longer rods connecting the first mentioned gear sectors tothe steering arms of the other wheels.

9. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear sets ofsteerable wheels each having a steering arm connected thereto,comprising a transverse shaft midway between said sets of wheelscarrying in non-rotative relation thereto gear sectors at the'oppositesides of-the longitudinal center line of the vehicle and extending inopposite directions from each other with respect to said shaft, gearsectors pivotally supported, on axes offset from the axis of said shaft,at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said vehicleand meshing with said first mentioned gear sectors, means for effectingswinging of one of said gear sectors upon its axis, relatively longerrods connecting the sectors carried by said shaft with the steering armsof certain of the wheels, and relatively shorter rods connecting theother gear sectors to the steering arms of the wheels which are nearestto them, all of said rods having pivotal connections with the gearsectors which they respectively connect to steering arms at pointswhich, in the straight-ahead steering position of the wheels, are at thefar sides of the pivot axes of said sectors from such wheels.

10. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear sets ofsteerable wheels each having a steering arm connected thereto,comprising a transverse shaft carrying, rigidly fixed thereto, gearsectors at the opposite sides of the center line of the vehicle, gearsectors pivotally supported at the opposite sides of the center line ofsaid vehicle and meshing with said first mentioned gear sectors, meansfor effecting turning of said shaft on its axis, and rods eachconnecting the steering arm of one wheel to a gear sector and pivotallyconnected to such gear sector at a point offsetfrom the axis of turningof the latter. 11. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front andrear sets of steerable wheels each having a steering arm connectedthereto, comprising a transverse shaft carrying, in nori-rota'tiverelation thereto, gear elements thereon, gear elements pivotallysupportedby said vehicle in position to mesh with said first mentionedgear elements, means for imparting a turning force to one of said gearelements, and rods each connecting the steering arm of one wheel to agear element, said rods each pivotally connected to the gear elementwhich it connects with a steering arm on an axis which is offset fromthe axis of turning movement of such gear element and which travelsaround the latter axis as said gear element is rotated. 12. Steeringmechanism for a vehicle having a material supporting bottom and havingfront and rear sets of axle sup-ported steerable wheels each having asteering arm connected thereto, comprising a transverse shaft arrangedbelow said bottom and carrying, in fixed relation thereto, gearelements, said transverse shaft arranged substantially 'midway betweenthe front and rear wheels, gear elements pivotally mounted on saidvehicle in meshing relation with said first mentioned gear elements andhaving their axes of rotation higher than the axis of rotation ofsaidshaft, relatively long rods connecting the gear elements on saidshaft with the steering arms of two of said wheels, and relatively shortrods connecting the steering arms of the other two of said wheels withsaid second mentioned gear elements.

. 13. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having a material supportingbottom and having front and rear sets of axle supported steerable wheelseach having a steering arm connected thereto, comprising a transverseshaft arranged below said bottom and carrying in non-rotative relationthereto gear elements, said transverse shaft arranged substantiallymidway between the front and rear wheels, gear elements pivotallymounted on said vehicle in meshing relation with said first lasso-socstraight-ahead positions of saidwheels, areatzthe opposite sides of saidshaft-from said wheels, and rods connecting the steering arms of theother two of said wheels with said second mentioned gear elements.

' 4; Steering mechanism for a vehicle having a material supportingbottom and having front and rear sets of axle supported steerable wheelseach having a steering arm connected thereto, comprising a transverseshaft arranged below said material supporting bottom and carrying, inrigid relation thereto, gear elements, said transverse shaft arrangedsubstantially midway between the front and rear wheels, gear elementspivotally mounted on said vehicle in meshing relation with said firstmentioned gear elements and having their axes of rotation higher thanthe axis of rotation of said shaft, relatively long rods connecting thegear elements on saidrs'ha'ft with the steering arms of two of saidwheels, and relatively short rods connecting the steering arms of theother two of said wheels with said second mentioned gear elements, saidrods having pivotal connections with said gear elements at points on thelatter so disposed as to cause the wheels at the side of the vehiclewhich will be the inside in going around a curve to be angled more thanthe other pair of wheels.

155. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear sets ofsteerable wheels each having a steering arm connected thereto comprisinga single transverse shaft providing a pair of angularly related crankarms fixed thereto and spaced therealong, other crank arms mounted toswing on axes laterally offset from the axis of said shaft, said othercrank arms arranged one adjacent each of said first pair and connectedwith the latter to be swung as the latter are swung, means for turningsaid shaft, and rods one connecting each crank arm to a steering arm,each crank arm and each steering arm having but one rod connectedthereto.

16. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear sets ofsteerable wheels each having a steering arm connected thereto comprisinga transverse shaft providing a pair of angularly related crank armequivalents spaced therealong and rigidly fixed thereto, other crank armequivalents one adjacent each of said first pair and connected with thelatter to be swung as the latter are swung, said last recited crank armequivalents having means for supporting them for turning on axeslaterally offset from the axis of said shaft, means for turning saidshaft, and rods one connecting each crank arm equivalent to a steeringarm, said rods pivotally connected to the crank arm equivalents whichthey respectively connect to steering arms on axes which are movedbodily as said crank arm equivalents are swung.

17. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear sets of steerable wheels each having a steering arm connected thereto comprising atransverse shaft providing in rigid relation thereto a pair of angularlyrelated crank arms spaced therealong, other crank arms one adjacent eachof said first pair and connected with the latter to be swung, on an axisoffset from the axis of said shaft, as the first crank arms are swung,

means for turning s'ai'd shaft, and rods-each individual .to zone'steeringzarmand to one .crankiarm connecting each crank arm to asteering arm, each rod connected, in the straight-aheadsteering/position of the wheels, with the crank arm whichiit connectswith asteering arm atavpoint at Ithe' f'arside ofthe swing axis of suchcrank :armfrom such steering arm.

18. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear pairs ofsteerable wheels, each wheel having a steering arm connected thereto,including a transverse shaft having fixed thereto, at opposite sides ofthe longitudinal center line of the vehicle, gear elements, other'ge'arelements pivotallyimounted adjacent said shaft and one meshing with eachof the gear elements on the latter, said other gear elements disposed'atopposite sides of :said shaft, said gear elements each havingthereon apivot connection for a drag link, and drag links, one for each suchpivot connection, leading therefrom to the steering arms-of the "wheelswhich are respectively .nearest "to said gearelements,said'pivotconnections so positioned on said gear elements thatthe movements of said draglinks are'greateras said pivot connectionsmove apart from their mean positions than when they move towards eachother from such mean positions.

19. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear pairs ofsteerable wheels, each having a steering arm connected thereto,comprising a transverse shaft carrying gear elements fixed thereto atopposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the vehicle, gearelements pivotally supported on axes offset from the axis of said shaftand constantly meshing with said first mentioned gear elements, meansfor efiecting concurrent swinging of said gear elements upon their axes,and four drag links each pivotally connected with the steering arm ofone wheel and with one gear element, each of said drag links connectedwith but one steering arm and one gear element.

20. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front'and rear sets ofsteerable wheels, each having a steering arm connected to it, each ofsaid steering arms having upon it a pivot for connection with a steeringrod and each of said pivots being nearer to the more adjacent end of thevehicle than is the vertical plane in which the axis of rotation of itsassociated wheel lies when such plane perpendiuclar to the centrallongitudinal plane of the vehicle, said steering mechanism'comprising atransverse shaft providing a pair of angularly related crank armequivalents spaced therealong and rigidly fixed thereto, other crank armequivalents one adjacent each Of said first pair and connected with thelatter to be swung as the latter are swung, said last recited crank armequivalents having means for supporting them for turning on axeslaterally offset from the axis of the shaft, means for turning saidshaft, and steering rods connecting each crank arm equivalent to a pivotupon a steering arm.

21. Steering mechanism for a vehicle having front and rear sets ofsteerable wheels, each having a'f'steering arm connected to it, saidsteering mechanism comprising a transverseshaft providing a pair ofangularly related'crank arms spaced therealong and rigidly fixedthereto, other crank arms one adjacent each of said first pair andconnected with the latter to be swung as the latter are swung, said lastrecited crank arms having means for supporting them for turning onaxe'slateraily offset from the axis of the'sli'aft,

11 means for turning said shaft, and rods one connecting each crank armto a steering arm, each of said rods, when the wheel whose steering itcontrols is in straight ahead steering position, pivotally connected tothe crank arm which it connects to a steering arm on an axis which liesat the opposite side from said steering arm of a vertical plane whichincludes the axis of rotation of such crank arm, and pivotally connectedto said steering arm on a pivot which is nearer the gear sectors, meansfor eifecting swing of one of "the gear sectors upon its axis, rodsconnecting the sectors carried by the shaft with the steering arms ofcertain of the wheels, and other rods connecting the other sectors withthe steering arms of the wheels which are nearest to them, said steeringarms so angularly related to the axes of rotation of the wheels whichthey respecmore proximate end of the vehicle than it would be if it laydirectly over the axis of rotation of the Wheel which said steering armsteers.

22. Steering means for a vehicle having front and rear sets of steerablewheels and each having a. steering arm connected thereto comprising atransverse shaft between the sets of wheels carrying in non-rotativerelation to it gear sectors at the opposite sides of the longitudinalcenter line of the vehicle and extending in opposite directions fromeach other with respect to the shaft,

gear sectors pivotally supported on axes ofiset from but parallel to theaxis of said shaft at the opposite sides of the longitudinal center lineof the vehicle and meshing. with the first mentioned tively steer that,in the straight ahead position of the wheels, the connections of all ofsaid rods with said steering arms are nearer the more adja-. cent endsof the vehicle than are the axes of rotation of the wheels.

VICTOR I. DUDLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 154,846 Cowles Sept. 8, 1874872,820 Johnson Dec. 3, 1907 1.06.9,720 Peterson Aug. 12, 1913 1,255,775Mueller Feb. 5, 1918

